Bulgarian-born Canadian actress Nina Dobrev has announced she was proud to be Bulgarian, in an interview for Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency).

“Everyone who knows me, knows I am Bulgarian and that I am proud of it! I speak Bulgarian with my family, and when my friends hear it they say – “wow that’s so cool that you speak another language! Sounds so cool”,” Dobrev said.

The 21-year-old star gained international success thanks to her role as Elena Gilbert in the popular American TV show “The Vampire Diaries,” which airs its second season now.

“I am extremely lucky to play two great characters on an amazing TV show. It is a challenge every single day, but I love challenges so it’s a good thing,” she said.

In the interview, Dobrev talked about the long process of “a lot of training and hard work” that she had to go through in order to gain the fame she has today.

"But it’s been a great journey and I’m in a place now were I feel confident in my work. I’m constantly challenged and very happy,” Dobrev said.

She added that snowboarding and going to the Black Sea coast are her favorite things to do when she comes back to Bulgaria.

“I spent this past Christmas in Bulgaria in Sofia and in the mountains snowboarding. I have a lot of family that still lives there so I try to visit as much as I can – it’s hard when you live so far away from your family. I miss them a lot,” she said.

To read the whole interview with Nina Dobrev, click HERE.

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